Mumbai: Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has expressed the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s exclusion from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka on February 15.
During the press conference after the captain’s festival, Yadav underlined that the players are fully prepared to follow the official plan laid down by the ICC, BCCI and the government and there is no hesitation from the Indian side to play the tournament.
“I think the mood is very clear. We didn’t say don’t play the match. It came from the other side. The ICC has given official matches. The BCCI and the government along with the ICC have decided on a neutral venue. Our flight is booked to Colombo. So we are definitely going,” Suryakumar said.
He also shed light on the team’s internal planning and discussions, outlined the roadmap for their competitive campaign, and ensured that the team stuck to the schedule announced by the governing bodies.
“The team discussion is that we play first on February 7 and then we’ll go there,” he said.
The 35-year-old Indian captain acknowledged the situation but insisted that his team’s focus is on playing the scheduled matches.
“Their (Pakistan) result is not in my control, I wish. We asked to play, there is a match. We played them three times in Asia Cup and we played some good cricket there. If we play again, we will do well. If the match is ready, we will definitely go,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha commented on the ambiguity surrounding a possible encounter against India, reiterating that the final call rests with the government.
He stressed that neither the cricket board nor the players have any authority in the matter and the government’s decision is final.
“The government has to take a decision regarding the match against India. It is uncertain whether the match against India will happen or not, but we will follow whatever decision the government takes,” said Salman Ali Agha.
On February 1, the Pakistan government announced that its national men’s team will participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but will not take the field in the group-stage match against arch-rivals India.
The result was shared through the official X handle of the Government of Pakistan.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan approves the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team will not take the field in the match against India scheduled for February 15, 2026,” the Pakistan Government said.
The move is said to be aimed at causing a financial setback for the International Cricket Council (ICC), which PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi last week accused of “double standards” and acting under the influence of the BCCI.
The announcement came shortly after the conclusion of a key meeting between Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Naqvi.
The PCB chief also met the Prime Minister last month and discussed Pakistan’s participation in the tournament, at which time he indicated that the final result would be announced in late January or early February.
It is to be noted that the green shirts had earlier reconsidered their participation in the 20-team mega event starting on February 7 after the ICC announced that they would replace Bangladesh with Scotland following Bangladesh’s refusal to tour India.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (PCB) took the decision earlier this month, reportedly after IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad on the orders of the BCCI.